HAMBURG, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued Destin Drywall and Paint Inc. of Houston, Texas, five serious citations and one repeat citation for fall hazards and other safety violations. The company was cited while installing wallboard to the exterior of a Wal-Mart store in Hamburg. Proposed penalties total $20,100.

"Destin Drywall has a recent history of not providing proper fall protection to employees at its jobsites," said Kevin Kilp, OSHA's area director in Harrisburg, Pa., whose office conducted the inspection. "This protection is critical given that falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry."

Serious citations allege a failure to provide fall protection for employees working on aerial lifts, training for employees on fall protection requirements while working on aerial lifts and roofs, and required personal protective equipment. They also allege that the company permitted workers to operate a rough terrain forklift without required training and allowed misuse of a stepladder. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Penalties for the serious citations total $11,700.

The repeat citation alleges that the company permitted its employees to work on a surface greater than 6 feet above the ground without an approved method of fall protection. A repeat citation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The proposed penalty for this repeat citation is $8,400.

Destin Drywall was issued a separate serious citation with a $1,500 penalty earlier this year for not providing proper fall protection while performing work at a Wal-Mart location in Benbrook, Texas. The company also was issued two additional serious citations and $3,375 in penalties for similar hazards while performing work at a Wal-Mart site in North East, Md.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the latest citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Harrisburg or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA's Harrisburg Area Office can be reached by telephone at 717-782-3902. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

###

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

Thank You for Visiting Our Website

You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.